Nigeria at 65: Reasons to Celebrate

Abubakar Hashim/Sierra Leone

As Nigeria clocks 65 tomorrow, 1st October 2025, there are four strategically compelling reasons, among others, the country should celebrate, despite ongoing terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.

Reasons to Celebrate

1. After 30 months of a bloody civil war, which claimed 1 million lives, to keep the country together, Nigeria, under the leadership of Gen Yakubu Gowon, then 37, now 91, spearheaded the formation of ECOWAS, together with other founding fathers like William Tolbert, Siaka Stevens, Dauda Jawara, and others. This singular act of spearheading ECOWAS and taking the lead role in its activities is a major achievement and calls for celebration as the country clocks 65 tomorrow.
2. ⁠Nigeria, till today, provides technical aid corps TAC services to African, Caribbean, and Pacific ACP countries. These services are mainly in the educational and health sectors. These include teachers, doctors, and other professionals for capacity building in these countries.
3. ⁠In the area of military cooperation, the country has also played a leading role. I recall that during the wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Nigeria helped build new military structures in both countries. In Sierra Leone and Nigeria, under the Status of Forces Agreement SOFA, they fought alongside the Sierra Leonean Armed Forces to quell the rebels. Apart from this, there were a series of military trainings for Sierra Leonean forces in military academies in Nigeria, like the NDA, 201 academy, the war college, and others.
4. ⁠Another important reason is in the area of promoting democracy in the region. I recall during the 2018 elections in Sierra Leone, Nigeria provided logistical support, including brand new pickup vans, speedboats, IT gadgets, and personnel, to the elections management body in Sierra Leone. This gesture paved the way to a successful conduct of the elections that produced the current President Bio to power.

As the country marks 65 tomorrow, the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after robust reforms since coming to power in 2023, is now in a state of recovery and economic stability.

Nigeria used to be the largest economy in Africa. South Africa has taken the lead, followed by Egypt.

Nigeria is bouncing back. In the 3rd quarter of 2025 ( July to September), oil is no longer the major GDP spinner, accounting for only 4%.

Agriculture now accounts for the largest share of 26%. Telecommunications accounts 6%.

This development has now placed the country as the third largest economy, slightly below Egypt and South Africa.

With the new tax law coming into effect on 1st January 2026, coupled with growth in agriculture, telecommunications, construction, and services, Nigeria, from all indications, will regain its number 1 position as the largest economy in Africa.

 

*Abubakar Hashim is the West Africa Bureau Chief of TheNEWS magazine, based in Sierra Leone